Bottle cap



June 22 1926,

1,589,575 H. SPENGLER BOTTLE CAP Original Filed April 19, 1921 Patented June 22, 1926.

UNITED STATES I 51,589,515 PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY SPENGLEB, on NEW YORK, it Y.

BOTTLE CAP.

Continuatign o1.v application Serial No. 462,515 ,fi1ed April 19, 1921. This application filed February 19,

1924. Serial No. 693,849.

This ap lication is a continuation of application gerial No. 462,515, filed Apr.- 19, 1921.

The present invention is a closure for bottles and other containers, and the objects of the invention are to'provide a cap of simple, inexpensive construction, capableof being easily applied and which can be removed without requiring any special tools. y

In the accompanying drawing I have disclosed the invention embodied in some of its different forms, but wish it understood that further modifications may be made without departure from the true spirit of the invention, as will lac-apparent from the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing referred to, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the cap;

Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the cap applied over the mouth of a bottle;

Figure 3 is a similar view, with the cap shown in section;

Figure 4'is a broken plan, and

Figuresv 5- and 6 are broken side views, illustrating -the construction and operation ofthe spring holding fingers;

Figures T'and 8 are plan views, showing the blank as it is first punched and then'as having certain of the fingers stretched and spread to overlapthe other spring fingers;

Figure 9 is a broken sectional View illustrative of a modification;

' Figure 10 is a partial plan view, broken away, illustrating another modification; and

Figure 11 is an elevation of the subject matter of Figure 10..

The cap shownis constructed OIE SHItablG spring material, usually spring sheet metal and is slitted at its periphery to provide the two sets of holding fingers 10 and 11, the second mentioned set of fingers overlapping the edges of the first set of fingers, as indicated at 12 in Figure .1.

These spring hol'ling fingers are turned inwardly to provide hooks or claws 13 (Figure 3) to ride'over and engage beneath. a

bead or shoulder 14 on the neck of the bottle- ]5 or other container to which the cover may be applied.

If desired, a suitable seal1nggasket or washer 16 may be used in connection with the cap to make a liquid and gas-tight'seal.

The cap is usually formed with a. relatively high crown, as

17 the bases of the spring fingers merging I have indicated at which is sufiicient for all practical purposes I and one which at the same time will permit of the cap being readily detached from the container.

On this latter point it will be noted that the overlapping of the outer set of fingers causes these fingers to stand out so as to form in effect a projecting annular rim at 18 (Figure 3) forming a convenient fingerhold for rocking the cap free of the annular rib 14. This leverage may be accentuated by providing an outstanding fold or bead 18 at the rim of the cap, substantially in line with the bend of the spring fingers, as I have shown in Figure 9.

In making up the caps, blanks like vthat shown in Figure'7 may be used, said blanks being slitted radially on lines 19 to provide separate fingers, the alternate fingers or 1 wings thus produced being then swaged or the fingers more flexible the slits may be widened or opened out at the inner ends as perforations 21 (Figures 7 and by forming Figure 5 indicates in a general way the relation of the overlapping fingers when the cap is seated in closed relation over the mouth of the bottle; whereas Figure 6 indicates how when the cap is being forced over the rib at the neck of the bottle, the spring fingers will be forced open somewhat, this latter view showing how even in this latter relation the edges of the overlapping spring fingers will still overlie the edges of the underneath fingers.

The reinforcement of the inner spring gripping fingers by the overlying outer 7 spring fingers provides a hold with the neck of the container which isboth secure and will automatically compensate for slight variations in thesize of the rib and the fit of the cap.

' This reinforcement of the spring fingers furthermore enables the cap being used repeatedly since the spring holding fingers do fingers 10, as for instance by providing corrugations 22 longitudinally of the fingers (radially of the cap), these corrugations standing out from the surfaces of fingers 1O 11 (Figure 10) so as to be flush with the surf-aces of fingers Or raised spot-like areas 23 may 'be provided for the same purpose.

With either construction the cap will present a comparatively smooth surface to the fingers of the operator.

Furthermore, the corrugations 22 or beads 23 will have the effect of strengthening the fingers, and this may be important where such a metal as aluminum is used in the making of thecap. For this purpose the beads or corrugations may be put on fingers 11 as well as-on fingers 10, and may either stand out from, or be depressed below, the outer surface thereof, preferably the latter, so that cap surface will be uniform.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In a bottle closure, a cap provided with dependent, inturned spring fingers to ride over and engage beneath the bead of a bottle neck and yielding members integral with the cap andoverstanding and reinforcing said spring fingers.

2. In a-bottle closure, a cap provided with dependent, inturned spring fingers to ride over and engage beneath the bead of a bottle neck and yieldlng members integral with the cap and overstanding and reinforcing said spring fingers, said yielding reinforcements being extended inwardly at points between the first'mentioned spring fingers to constitute additional spring holding fingers.

, 3. In a bottle closure, a cap provided with dependent, inturned spring fingers to ride over and engage beneath the bead of a bottle neck and yielding members integral with the cap and overstanding and reinforcing said spring fingers, said cap having an annular outwardly bulged rim in the plane of the sprin fingers to provide leverage for rocking the cap to disengage the spring fingers from holding engagement with the head.

4. A closure for bottles and the like comprising a cap of spring material slitted at the edgeto provide independent fingers, certain of said spring fingers being lapped over adjoining fingers to thereby reinforce the same.

5. A closure for bottles and the like comprising a cap of spring material slitted at the edge to provide independent fingers, certain of said spring fingers being lapped over adjoining fingers to thereby reinforce the same and both the overlapping and the underlapping fingers being extended inwardly to constitute spring jaws for gripping engagement beneath the bead of a bottle neck or the like.

6. A closure for bottles and the like comprising a cap of spring material slitted at the edge to provide independent fingers, certain of said spring fingers being lapped over adjoining fingers to thereby reinforce the same, said cap having a decided crown and having an annular bead at the rim thereof to afford leverage for rocking the cap free of the neck of a bottle.

.7. A closure as set forth in claim 5, in which the underlapping fingers are provided with raised portions standing out flush with the surfaces ofthe overlapping fingers.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HENRY SPENGLER. 

